March 30, the litigation between Microsoft and Apple that if Apple can use “App Store” as a trademark has progressed. Both Microsoft and Apple do hired a linguistics expert defense.

Microsoft submitted a new complaint material to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, including the views of a linguistics expert Ronald Butters. Butters supported Microsoft’s view that the “App Store” is a common noun, should not be used as a trademark of Apple.

Butters said: “This compound nouns App Store means ‘store sales applications’, only a certain kind of definition of the thing itself, describing the general attributes.” Apple spokesman declined comment.

Microsoft hired Butters to counter the Apple employed linguist Robert Leonard. The latter believes that Apple’s “App Store” is a proper noun, should be awarded the trademark, even if both words are common nouns when used separately.

The lawsuit show that, with smart phones and Tablet PC hot, the technology sector has showed a white-hot trend of related litigation. Each mobile device manufacturer has against competitors in the use of legal weapon, or to defend themselves. Apple has become a litigation target companies, including Nokia and Eastman Kodak and other patent owners. These companies want to fight Apple, or share Apple’s success.

Apple submitted a trademark application on App Store in 2008. Apple said at the time, the term means “through the Internet and other computer and electronic communication networks to provide computer software retail store services.” With the hot-selling iPhone and iPad, Apple continues to expand the market. Apple currently has more than 350,000 lines of applications for mobile devices.